From: atarince	Date: 09/01/2007 12:37:20

*is in a dining room, making decent inroads into a large buffet lunch*

*looks up when you come in* Moryo, you have got to try this smoked salmon!

	From: moryo	Date: 09/01/2007 12:40:20

*shakes his head* No, thanks, I've already eaten. *sits down at the table anyway and pours himself a glass of beer* Man, you look like you just woke up.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/01/2007 12:41:38

If that's a kind, brotherly way of saying I look like shit, feel free to admit it. *quirks a grin*

	From: moryo	Date: 09/01/2007 12:43:38

*chuckles* Oh, you do look like shit but the hair on one side of your head is sticking up something rotten. Can't take you out in public like that.

*plucks an apple out of the fruit bowl and starts to peel it with his own knife*

	From: atarince	Date: 09/01/2007 12:45:33

*raises his eyebrows* Can't take you out in public either. Look. *picks up a dinner knife and waves it at you* Cousin Turvo is equipped to provide cutlery to his guests, see? Is that a dagger?

*tucks into his salmon* *with his mouth full* An'way, whersther t'go?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/01/2007 13:00:15

Yes, it's a dagger, Curvo. Father would be so proud of you for spotting that one. It comes from the Dwarven Revival Unit in Khazad-dûm and you know how I dislike Dwarves.

*patiently waits for you to swallow before repeating your question even though he understood you perfectly* Town. We can go into town. I've spent the morning tracking my various Gondolin-based interests and I still have a few debts to collect. *shrugs almost imperciptibly* Hence the Dwarven steel.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/01/2007 13:53:53

I do know how you dislike most people Dwarves but that never stopped you from trading with them, did it? Eru, Caranthir, you'd sell our grandmother if she ever made the mistake of showing up anywhere near you.

*stares at you with the utmost astonishment* I don't know why I'm surprised, I don't, but how on Órë do you have interests here? I thought Turukáno controlled all trafficking and -- and -- whatnot?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/01/2007 14:12:03

*cheerfully* Which is why it's just as well Míriel has never shown up near Helevorn, really, isn't it?

*starts to slice his apple into very thin slices* I have interests everywhere, little one, didn't you know?

I thought Turukáno controlled all trafficking and -- and -- whatnot?

Trafficking and whatnot? Eru, Curvo, your grasp of basic business terms continues to astound. Our cousin tightly monitors all imports and exports, including communications. It's difficult to get goods into Gondolin and all but impossible to get them out. *grins cockily* But you know me. I like a challenge.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/01/2007 15:05:08

*laughs* Well, your grasp of legal business also continues to astound so I think that means we're level? Do I want to ask what you've been up to?

*scans the table for dessert* Ooh, cake! With cream!

	From: moryo	Date: 09/01/2007 19:34:33

You know that you don't want to ask anything that'll incriminate you, so we'll leave it at that.

*rolls his eyes* Are you planning on eating Cousin Turvo out of house and home?

	From: atarince	Date: 09/01/2007 19:39:49

That's the general idea, yup! 's no worse than you embezzling out of city and kingdom.

	From: moryo	Date: 09/01/2007 19:42:05

*mildly* No one said anything about embezzlement and it's hardly my fault that Arvenien silk, say, has to originate from Arvenien before it may be sold in Gondolin.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 08:22:01

*tries to follow* So -- you use the Arvenien Silk as a cover for whatever you're transporting into Gondolin?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 08:27:38

*patiently* I would except that I know that every single bale of silk is searched by sniffer dogs and Eru knows who else. Although that might be an idea. To get Turco to set up a training school for sniffer dogs who'd actually be on the smuggler's side.

No, what I'm trading is the Arvenien silk itself and, today, I have to go and collect four years' worth of earnings. One can make a pretty packet ensuring the safe transport of silk and other goods, you know

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 09:02:30

Four years? You have four years' worth of profit to collect? How on Órë have you been able to wait for four years?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 09:09:28

Because of two things, Atarincë Curufinwë. Number One: I have patience. A great deal more of it than, say, you and Turco combined. Number Two: I have had no opportunity to enter Gondolin until now. One must wait for one's chances, Curvo, and when they arrive, seize them with both hands. *pops an apple slice into his mouth* Both hands and an AK-47, if needs be.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 09:40:38

Oh, Mother would be so proud of you, Moryo. *leans back in his chair, folding his hands over his stomach* That was so good.

*closes his eyes and sighs with contentment*

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 10:29:41

You and I both know that I'm a terrible disappointment to her.

*leans over and pokes you in the side* *the side that still has a kidney* You. No. No dozing. Time to go out. C'mon.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 10:34:24

*whines* Nooooo, leeme 'lone.

*opens one eye* Where'we going?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 15:21:32

*ever-so-cheerfully* To collect, of course. Come on, on your feet.

*pokes and prods you until you stand up*

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 15:23:13

Be nice to me! I'm an invalid!

*gets up willingly enough and walks with you to the front door* You know I can't walk far, right?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 15:28:37

Yeah, I know, little one. You're a bloody gimp, aren't you? Still, bet you're a bit lighter without that kidney, huh?

*nods towards the bottom of the steps* Anyway, I have my motorbike.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 15:29:17

*stares* But, Moryo. That's your motorbike.

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 15:37:40

*with surprise* That's what I said, isn't it? Come on, put on a helmet. If you scramble your brains even more, Mother will have my hide.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 15:39:28

But it's your bike. How on Órë did you get it into Ondolindë?

*takes a helmet from one of the servants as he looks at you expectantly*

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 15:44:43

*sagely* Oh, when I heard we were being moved, I got onto a guy I know. Easy enough to get it into the city and it should be handy to have whenever I decide to leave.

*doesn't actually bother with a helmet himself* C'mon then, on you get. Hold tight. I actually don't know what the speed limits are in Gondolin.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 15:49:35

*shakes his head* You're really sort of scary, you know that?

*gets on and holds onto your waist* What you're saying is that, even if you did know what the speed limits are, you're going to ignore them anyway?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 15:51:49

You always were a fast learner, Curvo.

*kicks the engine to life and roars through the streets until they eventually pull up outside a large warehouse*

*didn't even terrorise that many old ladies*

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 15:55:57

*gets off the bike, a little shakily, having seen his life flash before his eyes multiple times during that journey*

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 16:07:13

*snorts* Never known you to get car-sick before, mate. You look like shit.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 16:15:36

Because you drive like a bloody maniac? And I'm injured. *sighs dramatically* You're so cruel.

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 16:17:14

*blandly* I'm not cruel. You just need toughening up. Turco has pampered you for too long.

*leads the way into the warehouse, rapping on the doorframe* Hello? Proprietor? Ooh, proprietress. Hi, there.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 16:27:01

*rolls his eyes* *mutters* Here we go again.

*folds his arms and leans against the doorframe* *addresses the owner in a loud voice* You're going to have to believe me when I say that he is not the good cop.

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 16:53:43

*grins* You'd have a much easier time believing me when I say that he's definitely the ugly cop. Or whatthehellever. Anyway, I'll just be collecting my money?

*waits patiently for the response* Well, I'll accept that as partial payment but the rest?

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 17:08:45

*raises his eyebrows* Oh, of course he wants it all. Who knows when we're going to be in this part of Órë again?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 17:16:18

Now, now, Curvo, don't make the poor girl-- woman cry.

*in an eerily gentle tone* Well, you understand that it makes little sense for me to accept silk as the rest of the payment because I already own it? But how about I take a few things? And we can call it a deposit until your cash flow problems have resolved?

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 17:31:42

*feels a slight shiver run down his spine at the tone you're using*

*looks at the owner* I'd do what he says. I promise you, he really is a very frightening individual. But you probably already knew that. How long have you been in business with him? Yeah. You're never getting out.

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 18:13:55

*implacably* Curvo, help yourself to a few things, there. You've probably got a better eye for pretty things than I do. Get something for all of the boys, and Mother and Father and Finduilas and perhaps Itarillë and poor Turvo and Elenwë.

	From: atarince	Date: 09/02/2007 18:31:41

*surprised* OK, sure. *wanders around, plucking silk ties off the racks for Maglor and you and himself and Celegorm and Ambarussa and Fëanor* *picks shawls for Maedhros (red), their mother (charcoal), Finduilas (dark green) and Ambarussa (dark blue)*

Is this enough?

	From: moryo	Date: 09/02/2007 18:38:16

*does a quick calculation in his head* *to the owner* I should think you are getting off lightly, ma'am. I will be back in a few days to collect the rest.

*is handed a briefcase, filled with banknotes* And, no, I won't be taking a personal cheque.

*steps outside and hails a cab* *bundles you and the silken goods and the briefcase inside* Straight back to the Palace. I've a few more establishments to menace visit. Catch up with you later.